Yemeni army says retakes militant stronghold of Jaar

ADEN - The Yemeni army has retaken the southern town of Jaar from al-Qaida-linked militants after heavy fighting that killed at least 24 people, the Yemeni Defense Ministry and residents said on Tuesday.

Yemen, in a US-backed offensive, is battling to retake territory in the southern province of Abyan, seized by militants last year during a popular uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh.